G.W. Panther

Specifically, the mismatch in crew values caused by commander's 10% crew skill bonus. Outside of a crew of 1 commander only, 100% crew is a fiction. The client values, given for 100% crew, will normally be taken into battle with 110% crew skill members aside from specific functions, causing their actual performance to deviate from the expected client value.
These differences are taken into account in tooltip boxes.

It is a good artillery for its tier, with the widest (along with the M37) gun traverse arc of any non-turreted artillery thanks to its limited turret rotation - making it easy to move to new targets without having to move the hull of your tank. The GW Panther starts with the Hummel's gun, but gets a more accurate and powerful gun once researched. The GW Panther cannot excel in the role of a tank destroyer, as the Hummel did due to its size and lack of gun depression, but it can do the job in an emergency. The GW Panther is highly maneuverable for a tier 7 SPG, which allows easy relocation in the event of detection. It is nicknamed "Dracula", due to its Dracula cape-like armor on the rear and side of its gun.

Compatible Equipment

Compatible Consumables

Player Opinion

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Good mobility for an artillery piece, able to relocate and move around the map

Wide firing arc, allowing you to keep aiming circle accurate

Low shell arc means low shell travel time

Decent reload speed

Cons:

Not the best camouflage value

Low shell arc makes shooting over cover difficult

Stock gun HEAT round has low penetration

Performance

Slightly more sluggish than the Hummel, the GW Panther trades some mobility for firepower. Thankfully however, it doesn't give much away for a large gain in power; maintaining maneuverability and speed compared to the other Tier 7 SPGs.

The G.W. Panther is a very solid arty, being one of the few mid tier artillery that is still accurate. The gun has a 1200 damage HE round which, while lower than the damage dealt by the Soviet 203mm gun, is not total overkill against anything under tier 8. Because of this, it has much better accuracy, a faster reload, and better aim time than the Soviet 203mm. The gun is also accurate enough to put its 900 damage, 240 pen HEAT round to good use, meaning you can terrorize even heavily armored higher tier tanks with massive damage, provided RNG is kind to you. The premium HE round provides a noticeable splash radius boost, but at a cost of being much more expensive per shot. If you choose to shoot the HEAT round, Brothers in Arms and Snap Shot are skills that your crew should have to increase your accuracy, and thus, your hit rate. Chocolate can also be used to increase your accuracy and decrease your aim time further. This SPG sees use in certain strategies in WGLNA, being one of the few mid tier artillery pieces which is still effective after the massive nerfs of 0.8.6. The G.W. Panther, like other accurate artillery pieces, benefits greatly from the "Battle Assistant" mod, making it easier to place shots into weaker points for increased damage due to the way HE mechanics work.

Early Research

Research and mount upgraded 15 cm s.F.H. 43 gun

Research Engine

Research Suspension

Suggested Equipment

Gallery

GW panther front left view

GW Panther front right view

GW Panther back left view

GW Panther back right view

GW Panther, map Siegfried line

GW Panther, Prokhorovka map

GW Panther, Prokhorovka map

GW Panther, map Ensk

Historical Info

In 1942, German designers started the development of a new series which would utilize chassis and components of various tanks and use them as mountings for various heavy weapons. Designs of the Grille Series incorporated many new technical modifications in order to mount heavy weapons. Some vehicles of the Grille Series were designed to be weapon carriers - Waffenträger. Some of those vehicles reached prototype stage, but none of them entered production that was planned for mid 1945. The Grille 12/15 was to be based on a Panther chassis.
Originally, the Grille 10 was built based on the order for heavy anti-tank vehicles to be armed with the 88mm Flak L/56 gun and be used against fortifications of the Maginot Line. In June of 1940, a change of technical specifications occurred: the vehicle build by Krupp was modified to be a self-propelled anti-aircraft gun. It was based on the Pz Sf IVc chassis. The original anti-tank vehicle, designated as 8.8cm K(PzSfl) auf Sonderfahrgestell, was to be armed with the 88mm Pak 43 gun, but only a wooden model was made. In late 1942, three prototypes were made: the Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm Flak 37. In 1944, they were re-armed with the 88mm Flak 41 guns and designated the Versuchsflakwagen für 8.8cm Flak 41. A single example was re-armed again with the 88mm Flak 37 and sent for tests to Italy, where it served with Heeres Flakartillerie Abteilung (Sf.) 304, and was assigned to the 26th Panzer Division.